The Just One More Book!! children’s book podcast will be taking an indefinite hiatus so that Andrea and I can focus on making Andrea a Breast Cancer survivor. We received the results of Andrea’s biopsy, yesterday. This morning we met with a surgeon and discussed the treatment process.

Note that before we stop production we still have two interviews and four audio essays to publish. We also plan to do a “so long for now” show. If you’d like to be a part of that show, please leave a short comment on our voice feedback line, 206-350-6487 (UPDATE: our feedback line is no longer in service). We’ll include as many comments as is practical and reserve the right to edit any comments. We don’t know when we’ll publish the show so get your comments in quickly!

Just One More Book by the numbers:

1,362,954: total downloads in the last 18 months; an average of 2100 downloads per day (more than 2 million downloads since we launched in July 2006).

Thank you for your kind words and shockingly fast response! We’re doing well and remain very focused on a successful outcome. We’re grateful for all of the positive vibes and we know that they’ll really help. So, at the risk of sounding demanding, please keep them coming!

You will all be greatly missed. Blessings and peace as you journey onward. Glad you prioritized. You won’t regret it. Prayers for your whole family, and especially Andrea. (From a sister – a cancer survivor. Forge on!)

My thoughts and best wishes are with you and your family. I just know that your love of reading together will help you get through this. Music can be a very powerful healing tool as well. Stay strong and get well.

You have my prayers for Andrea and the whole family. You were so kind to me and my family in our battle with cancer, even doing a podcast for Emily and Flying Horse Farms. I’l never forget that. May blessings and strength and love hold you up and carry you through.

Best wishes for you Andrea.. you can do this!! Lots of love for you and Mark and the kids. You guys are amazing and have managed to touch many lives because of your love of books. I know you’ve touched mine.

This community is amazing!!! We are grateful for the good vibes, thoughts and outpouring of support.

Our cancer survivor friends have all told us the same thing… lean on the people that offer help. So, once we have a better sense of what lies ahead and when the surgery and treatment are underway, we will contact the people that offered support with our requests.

Thank you all so much for the good vibes and support. It really does energize us.

By the way… I’m collecting cancer survivor stories on my blog. I’m hoping to get 31, one for each day of this month. So far I have four. If you have one, please take a few minutes to add it to the list at:

I am a breast cancer survivor and if there is anything I can do to help please don’t hesitate to ask. There really is a wonderful community of survivors out there and it helps to get all the information and support that you can.

Try to stay positive. You will beat this! They have come so far in fighting this terrible disease.

Mark & Andrea, Your lively podcasts with their energetic music, your daughters’ sweet voices and laughter, and both of your thoughtful, earnest, kind and committed takes on so many books, author/illustrators and kidlit subjects… it’s all quite a contribution to your listeners’ kidlit lives.

As you withdraw now to focus your family’s impressive energies on Andrea… Well, somehow I feel just as positive about a good outcome in that endeavor as I do every time I hit “play” for your show.

Take good care. Fondly, Denise

Comment by lisainberlin

October 9, 2009 @ 4:06 am

To the just one more book family: I was shocked to hear this news. I want to send you, Andrea and your family my best wishes…thankyou for this blog, I look forward to seeing it in the future because I believe you will make it through this.
Lisa

Andrea and Mark… you have given us so much energy and thoughtfulness in your podcasts and we’re sending it right back to you. This Sunday, I’m running the Boston Half Marathon as part of the Dana Farber Cancer Team and will be running for you and everyone else who’s deal with this beast of a disease. I’ll be running strong knowing that you are too.

Andrea & Mark, your generosity and enthusiasm here on JOMB has always amazed me. Thanks so much for what you have given to all of us! I’ll miss you online, and will be thinking of you. Please be well, Andrea!

Andrea and Mark, you’re in my thoughts. I hate it that yet another family has been blindsided by this diagnosis. It’s going to be a helluva year, but the seismic shift and aftershocks that cancer and treatment bring WILL quiet down and recede. Andrea WILL be a survivor/thriver. You WILL get through all of this with grace and sanity and humor and honesty (and a few tears along the way, that’s only natural).

[…] extend our best wishes to Mark Blevis and Andrea Ross, the dynamic duo of Just One More Book. In an announcement last Wednesday, Mark explained that JOMB is going on hiatus, in part, because they will be devoting all of their […]

Comment by woody

October 12, 2009 @ 10:35 am

All I can say is that the world needs more people like you both! So sorry for your news and will miss this podcast greatly. Maybe there is a book to be written about/by the J.O.M.B. duo?

I’d just like to say that you are both remarkable people, who add so much to the kidlitosphere. I love JOMB. I will be thinking of you both, and sending amazing cancer-fighting vibes to you Andrea. We care about you, and we know you will win this fight. xo Shelf Elf

Thank you, everyone, for your continued messages of support and energy. It really means a lot to us that so many people are sending good vibes. We can feel it and it’s definitely helping.

Best wishes,
Mark

Comment by Karen

October 13, 2009 @ 6:24 pm

This is my first visit to your site and I think that I am going to love it! I am a teacher and a breast cancer survivor – and you will be too! Just take it a day at a time and focus on your treatment and getting well. You will get through it! I’ll be thinking of you and saying prayers for you.

Your enthusiasm for children’s books is inspiring and contagious. I hope that all the wonderful energy you’ve sent out through your website and podcasts comes right back to you and gives you comfort and good health–and, Andrea, LOTS of power (I read that’s a favorite word). I’m thinking of you, and sending good thoughts to you both and to your girls.

As a Stage 1 BC survivor, I deeply sympathize with what you’re going through. It’s scary as hell, but you’ll make it to the other side. I highly recommend Barbara Abercrombie’s book on Writing Through The Storm.

If anyone can beat this, you guys can. Best wishes and know we’re all thinking of you.

Maureen

Comment by Susan Larrivee

October 25, 2009 @ 8:14 pm

Andrea,

I found out about your site a month ago, from cousin Larry. Tonight I came to check it out. I will be praying for a complete healing for you.
A lady from my Home school Group just beat cancer. She spent this past summer in the hospital but is now back out at all our kids outings.

I pray that your hearts and minds would be filled with Peace.
My Love to you and Mark and your girls,
(cousin)Susie

Your entire family is in my prayers. Having faith that you will be back and stronger than ever soon. Your podcasts will be sorely missed but I’m glad you are taking the time you need to beat this cancer. Prayers for peace for you and your girls and for quick and permanent healing.

Andrea and Mark, I am so sorry to hear this. I went through a cancer battle last winter and came out stronger so I am praying the same for you. God Bless you both. You will be missed in the podcast world!! BTW Your baby screaming background seems more fitting than ever right now.

I don’t know how I missed this. I’m so sorry to hear your news. Wishing you strength through this difficult time.
Get well soon.

Comment by Mandy Ong

December 21, 2009 @ 11:00 pm

I hope you and your family will stand strong together and fight the disease. I know it’s not easy because my mom just had a 9.9lbs neoperitoneal sarcoma removed last week. She too will undergo chemo sessions very soon. I wish you well and your family will be in my prayers. Do take things one day at time and enjoy every seconds of your life. Have a blessed holiday.

Comment by anonymous

April 26, 2012 @ 5:08 am

Prayers for peace for you and your girls and for quick and permanent healing.